The small patter of small feet announce the presence of the ghoul child before the young one can be seen, the raven-haired babe following shortly. Freshly washed and ready for bed in his red silk pajamas, he stands in front of his father and taps his knee with a little pudgy hand. "Daddy, bedtime," he urges, ready for his new routine of being escorted to bed and being tucked in with a story. His father always told the best stories, after all.
Quick Chinese lesson: (1) FĂčqÄ«nmeans father. (2) MÇqÄ«n means mother. (3) Ărzi means son.
     â âł â TATARA and Reina took turns telling LiĂĄng bedtime stories now. Tatara would regale them in Mandarin Chinese, and Reina in Japanese in efforts to teach him both languages of his heritage. The father gently tucked his son in after heâd taken LiĂĄng to brush his teeth, pulling the ghoul childâs green sheets and warm comforter over his small form and pulled up a chair beside his bed as LiĂĄng got settled in and grabbed his favorite stuffed dragon plush toy so it could listen to the tale too.
     â âł â A NEW part of their routine, it was, one that Tatara had actually started growing fond of. It served as a dual bonding activity and education for his son. Tatara had already decided earlier what story he would share with him this time. He waited until the boy was settled in and staring at him expectantly before beginning in his native language in his calm, story telling voice heâd crafted just for LiĂĄng.
  â ââ- âŠNoble Tiger traveled a great distance and began to feel his eyes growing heavy. Noble Tiger was very sleepy, you see. For he was very old⊠â
  LiĂĄng chirped up, interrupting him and a breath of air left Tataraâs nose - the closest thing to a laugh he allowed himself.â Did he have no teeth? â
  â He still had teethâŠjust no longer sharp. And so Noble Tiger lay himself under a great banyan tree â â
  â What is a banyan tree? â LiĂĄng interrupted him again. Tatara didnât mind when the boy stopped him mid-sentence. Liang was a bright child just as his nameâs meaning, and inquiries were how one learned. It was better to be curious about things one did not understand.
  â It is an interesting tree found in India, one of the uniquest ones Iâve ever seen. I will show you a picture tomorrow. â Was the patient answer.
  â Yes! âThe ghoul child crowed enthusiastically, small form leaning forward excitedly.â What did Noble Tiger do next? â
  â Noble Tiger fell into a deep slumber. He had the most beautiful dream of a long, shady path. And as he walked down itâŠhe grew young again and began life anewâŠ.â
  â So he slept forever? â His son held his dragon toy closer, sable eyebrows furrowed much like his fatherâs did when he was disturbed. Despite being a ghoul, LiĂĄngwas still very much a child, and death was a concept he did not fully understand yet so Tatara was slowly, carefully introducing him to the concept, knowing one day death would be familiar to his son â once Liang killed his first human.
  â  â Yes, but all of his friends in the forest were so happy for him. Then, they remembered all the treasures he left behind. â
  â What is a âtreasure,â FĂčqÄ«n? â
  â  Well, a treasure can be many things, Ărzi. It is something someone considers valuable â important to them. A treasure is something you wish to protect, something you care dearly about, something or someone that makes you happy. Can you think of anything like that, LiĂĄng? â
  â Hmm, MÇqÄ«n and you! And all my toys! ButâŠwhat is FĂčqÄ«nâs treasure? â LiĂĄng asked, a small fist reaching up to rub an eye sleepily, his other young eye gazing at him curiously. One corner of Tataraâs lips lifted in the barest ghost of a soft smile.
  â âŠYou, LiĂĄng, are the greatest treasure your mother ever gifted to me. â LiĂĄng blinked owlishly, silent for a few heartbeats before the ghoul child sprung from his bed and a whoosh of air left Tataraâs lungs as he slammed into his broad chest with the force of a low speed car and embraced him.
     â âł â The father stared down at him, his cold eyes softening and he lifted one arm and wrapped it around him for a brief time. Though being with Reina for so many years had taught him to be more comfortable displaying affection to the point such was almost effortless around her and their son, it could still be a bit awkward for him. He gently pat his back with a large hand then pulled away and tucked LiĂĄng back in - making certain his stuffed dragon was tucked in too since LiĂĄng had been adamant and insisted about why his dragon needed to stay warm too the first time he didnât.
  â  Now it is time to go to sleep. You have tutoring with your mother tomorrow, do you not? You must rest well to properly learn Kanji. â Â
  â Okay⊠â LiĂĄng nodded with a disappointed pout before a big yawn ruined his efforts to sulk.Tatara stood from his chair, his feet padding over to the bedroom light switch and turning it off. Liang still slept with his night light. Reina assured him that it was normal for children fear the dark and it took some time to grow out of it so it did not concern him anymore. Just as his foot stepped outside the door, LiĂĄngwhispered in a tired, garbled voice something that sounded like: âI love you.â
      â âł â TATARAâS head snapped towards him silently. If heâd been raised as LiĂĄng had, would he have been more open emotionally like his son? Able to utter such things so freely? Even Reina had only heard him say those words a handful of times over a period of many years. Yen had never been one to say it often either. He and Tatara preferred to show it through actions. However, if Reina had taught him anything, it was that it wasâŠsafe for him to bear his heart on his sleeve just a littleâŠamong his small, but immensely precious three person family.
  â âŠYou too. Good night. â Â
     â âł â LiĂĄng didnât reply, his eyes, sharing the slit pupils of his motherâs and the bloody red hue of his fatherâs in his iris, had closed and his breathing was even, but the tiniest of joyful smiles remained on his peacefullyangelic face. Tatara took one last look at him, silently closed the door, and joined Reina in their master bedroom, slipping one muscular arm around her slender waist and falling into a semi-deep sleep with his face buried in her dark, silky midnight tresses. That nightâŠhe dreamed of walking down a shady path that led him to Reina and LiĂĄng.